Is a 1 hour workout enough? I feel like I'm not doing enough

Good shout, Dave. I'll give that a try this weekend. Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

Meal prep is your friend. I spend Sunday afternoons getting everything ready for the week so I don't have to think about it after work.

Cooking is the hardest part of the gym, honestly! 😂

I'm trying! Lots of chicken and eggs. It's a lot of cooking.

Forget the time, man. Focus on the progress. Are you eating enough protein too? That's the other half of the battle.

That makes me feel a lot better. I've been consistent so far, just had that nagging feeling I was doing "lite" workouts.

Spot on. Consistency is king.

Even then, I rarely go over 75 minutes. Consistency beats duration. If you can do 1 hour consistently, you'll beat the guy who does 3 hours once a week and quits.

That's a good point by NorthernLass. Once you're squatting heavy, you need those 3-minute breaks between sets.

Just a heads up, 5x5 can get tough once the weights get heavy. You might need more than an hour then just for the rest periods!

Keep us posted on which one you choose. 5x5 is a classic for a reason.

I haven't checked those out yet. I'll give them a look tonight. Thanks for the tips, y'all.

Exactly. @TXguy99, have you looked at something like Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5x5? They are designed for 45-60 min sessions.

Totally agree! It's all about the intensity. If you can walk out of there feeling like you could do it all over again, maybe add some weight? But 60 mins is the sweet spot for most beginners.

I used to feel the same guilt! I'm in the UK and my local leisure centre is always packed. I found that tracking my lifts helped. If the numbers are going up, the time doesn't matter.

The guys staying 3 hours are usually spending 2 of those hours scrolling on their phones or chatting by the water fountain. Focus on your compound lifts (squats, deadlifts, presses) and an hour will feel like a marathon.

Not really a strict program, just hitting the main machines and some dumbbells. I guess I just worry I'm being lazy if I'm out in under an hour.

I'm with LondonLad on this. When I first started in Toronto, I thought I had to live at the gym. Now I do 45-minute high-intensity blocks and I'm stronger than ever. Are you following a specific program?

Mate, an hour is plenty! If you're actually working hard for those 60 minutes, you'll see progress. Quality over quantity every single time.

I've been hitting the gym for about 3 weeks now, doing roughly an hour 4 times a week. I leave feeling okay, but I see guys staying for 2 or 3 hours. Am I doing enough to actually see results, or should I be pushing for longer sessions?